IPCC scientist: E-mobility not the only way to decarbonise transport

IPCC recently released a report saying that the pace of transition in the transport sector deemed necessary for a 1.5C-consistent pathway must include more biofuels and electricity in transport’s energy mix. [Sarantis Michalopoulos]

When it comes to decarbonisation of transport, switching to electric cars is just one option and there are a number of others, such as biofuels, that should not be discarded, a scientist from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said.

“There is no doubt we will have to consider all mobility-related options,” IPCC’s Dr Diana Urge-Vorsatz told EURACTIV.com on the sidelines of COP24 in Katowice.

“These do include electromobility, biofuels, shared mobility and several different mobility services in general,” she added.

IPCC recently released a report saying that the pace of transition in the transport sector deemed necessary for a 1.5C-consistent pathway must include more biofuels and electricity in transport’s energy mix.

The UN’s scientific body is currently working on the sixth assessment, due to be finalised in three years time.

“We will assess all the options, the IPCC will not make any recommendations but rather look at what the literature says about the potential, the cost and mitigation opportunities to these different options and the associated synergies and trade-offs,” she said.

IPCC’s Dr Diana Urge-Vorsatz: “There is no doubt we will have to consider all mobility-related options.” [Sarantis Michalopoulos]

Based on the IPCC experience, Urge-Vorsatz said there had never been one single answer in any sector, especially in mobility. “So, probably there will be a multitude of solutions, which will be considered.”

“In mobility, definitely electric mobility is not a single solution as there are many other options that are available, attractive and compatible with the 21st century digital economy.”

“Thus, switching to electric cars is just one of the many many options that we can do in transport, we have to look beyond the whole question of mobility as it’s the main driver of emissions,” she emphasised.

Scientists warn that transport is the only sector of the economy whose GHG emissions are increasing globally. Particularly in Europe, road transport CO2 emissions have been rising since 2013 and road transport, in general, contributes about one-fifth of the EU’s total emissions of carbon dioxide. While these emissions fell by 3.3% in 2012, they are still 20.5% higher than in 1990.

In the IPCC report, scientists indicated for 2020, 2030 and 2050, respectively, a biofuels share of 2%, 5.1%, and 14.7% as good policy targets in order to follow the appropriate path in curbing emissions.

The report also said that electricity’s involvement in the transport mix should increase to 1.2% in 2020, 5% in 2030 and 33% in 2050, so that by 2030, biofuel-powered vehicles would be almost as important as e-cars.

First generation biofuels such as palm oil diesel gave bioenergy a bad name, but recent scientific reports have confirmed that policymakers must take into account all the available options in the transport sector to win the climate change battle.

The biofuel discussion in Europe

In Europe, the discussion about the decarbonisation of the transport sector has triggered strong reactions, especially when it comes to the future use of biofuels.

In terms of the Renewable Energy Directive revision, the EU and its member states have decided to cap first-generation biofuels at a maximum of 7%.

The European Commission is currently working on a delegated act to determine risk criteria of the so-called indirect land use change (iLUC).

The future system foresees three categories of biofuels: the high iLUC risk, the low iLUC risk, and the ones with no iLUC assessment because of limited risk.

Speaking at an event organised by EURACTIV on 5 December, several stakeholders highlighted the need for clear criteria in order not to leave room for “bad biofuels” like palm oil to enter the EU through the back door.

Jo Leinen, a social democrat MEP (S&D) from the ENVI Committee, told EURACTIV that if Europe wants to decarbonise its transport, it needs various instruments.

“Electrification is one but it won’t come so soon. Therefore, we need other tools such as sustainable biofuels, which will help us a lot at least in the transition period,” the German politician said.

He added that in the long run, Europe would need biofuels for aviation and probably for trucks.

“So electrification and good biofuels is the combination of EU policies for sustainable road transport,” he said.

On the other hand, he said, the low-risk biofuels like ethanol are mainly produced in Europe.

“Our farmers fully comply with our EU laws and therefore I think the legislation is leading to a fair trade but also to sound environmental protection,” he emphasised.

Regarding the biofuel debate in Europe, Dr Urge-Vorsatz said she was aware of the several controversies related to biofuels.

She admitted that there were indeed differences among them, especially about their environment and technology perspective, and she made it clear that in the next IPCC assessment there would be a distinction among them.

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4 responses to “IPCC scientist: E-mobility not the only way to decarbonise transport”

There is a major problem with this article – at no point does it ask the question: why do we as a society need so much transport? – this question applies as much to the transport of goods as it does to people. Cities such as Brussels are very close to grid lock & yet the “solution” is to decarb (urban) transport through the use of electricity/biofuels. This is no solution.

About a century ago the discussion (wrt cities) was about horse shit. The internal combustion engine “solved” the problem of horse shit – replacing it with something that was at first very useful and later became a major problem.

If the de-carb debate wrt transport does not also address the need for transport (why do people need to travel to an office every day – why not telework? – if not at home – then at a local telework centre) then it will fail. Neither will “gigantism” work (build more public transport) since it only addresses symptoms (need more of something) – not causes: why do people need more & more transport?

Transport is the only sector of the economy whose emissions of greenhouse gases increase worldwide. In Europe, transport CO2 emissions have increased since 2013, contributing to around a fifth of total EU emissions.
There is no more time to play hide and seek behind oil interests. Diana Ürge-Vorsatz says wrong, “So, there will probably be a multitude of solutions that will be taken into consideration.” They are not real solutions, due to the urgency of the decrease in greenhouse gases, the transition to electric cars or bio-diesel. Only one remains of solutions. Hydrogen immediately.

All internal combustion engines can safely and economically use E15, regardless of age. This is proven by Brazil’s decades long use of E15, E25, and now E27. They have the same engines as those available in the U.S. and Europe. In addition, E15 to E30 was used throughout Great Britain from the 1920’s to the 1970’s with great success. This is also true of other countries such as France and Germany.

Ethanol is the only solution that can be used immediately in every gasoline-powered vehicle on the road and on water, and it requires no costly conversion. This is the great way to limit harmful emissions from gasoline and aromatics.

My 600+ page book “THE ETHANOL PAPERS” has just been published and it’s free to read on TheAutoChannel.com website.﻿